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Chapter 8

Health

Ensuring that no one is denied adequate medical treatment through lack of means is a fundamental part of the Government's healthcare policy. Maintaining the continuity of primary and secondary health care is also of central importance and in July the Health and Medical Development Advisory Committee published a discussion paper on strategies for the future.

As the statistics show, Hong Kong, with its low and steadily declining infant. mortality rate and maternity mortality ratio and its significant improvement in life expectancy over the last 20 years, continues to rank among the most developed countries in terms of its health indices.

Vital Statistics in 2005

Infant Mortality Rate

Maternal Mortality Ratio

Life Expectancy 2005 2033

2.4 per 1 000 registered live births

1.8 per 100 000 registered live births (One case of registered maternal death)

78.8 (Male) 82.5 (Male)

84.4 (Female) 88.0 (Female) projected

Organisational Framework

The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau is responsible for, among other matters, the policy formulation and resource allocation for health services in Hong Kong. It also oversees the implementation of policies to protect and promote public health, provide comprehensive and lifelong holistic care to every citizen and ensure that no one is denied adequate medical treatment due to lack of means.

The Department of Health is the Government's health adviser and the agency which executes healthcare policies and statutory functions. It safeguards the community's health through a range of promotional, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services.